Movies & TV

Emmys 2012: "Homeland," "Modern Family" rule

Claire Danes, who won for best actress in a drama for "Homeland," poses backstage Sunday at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Danes' co-star Damian Lewis won for best actor in a drama. (Photos by John Shearer, Invision/The Associated Press)

The 2012 Emmy winners cemented the idea that serious drama is the province of pay cable, while comedy still resides on broadcast TV.

All represented huge first-time victories for the individuals, the series and the network.

"Homeland" has marked Showtime's ascendance over long-dominant rival HBO in terms of nominations and, now, wins. The series also proved up to the task of halting "Mad Men's" march to what would have been a record-setting fifth win.

Photos: 2012 Emmy Awards

"Modern Family" on ABC once again won the best comedy series title. Additionally, Eric Stonestreet won best supporting comedy actor and Julie Bowen won the best comedy actress award (beating castmate Sofia Vergara).

And while this year's telecast mostly steered clear of politics, one of the winners was plainly political: HBO's "Game Change," about the 2008 campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin, won four awards, for best miniseries/movie, director, writing and lead actress for Julianne Moore, who played Palin.

Accepting the award, Moore said she felt "validated," since Palin had given the project "a big thumbs-down."

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Jon Cryer's win as best actor in a comedy for "Two and a Half Men" was a major upset. "This is crazy!" he said as he accepted the statuette. He beat Jim Parsons, Larry David, Don Cheadle, Louis C.K. and Alec Baldwin.

Jessica Lange's win for "American Horror Story" on FX was a stunner. And while Julia Louis-Dreyfus is not new to winning (this was her third win for her third show, after "Seinfeld" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine"), HBO's win for her best comedy actress role in "Veep" is the network's first in the category.

Maggie Smith won as best supporting actress (and thrower of zingers) in a drama for "Downton Abbey" but wasn't on hand to accept.

Several repeaters took honors at the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, notably Stone-street and Bowen of "Modern Family," "The Amazing Race" as best reality show and Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad."

The opening taped bit "backstage" was fun, highlighted by a bevy of actress nominees punching host Jimmy Kimmel in the face. A group of reality-show hosts popped up offering to host again. No, thanks. (Remember how bad they were? At least they could poke fun at themselves.)

Kimmel kept things moving briskly, if unevenly.

The climax of the evening was the standing ovation given Michael J. Fox, who presented the award for outstanding comedy 21 years since his Parkinson's diagnosis.

Under showman Don Mischer, holder of 15 Emmys himself, the pace was snappy, the tone less self-deprecating than in years past and the host more comfortable. Sunday's telecast succeeded by not trying too hard.

More video, less canned onstage banter and an understated set were a relief.

Sometimes trying to change up an old awards show has resulted in chaos. This year, a logical organization of awards by categories and a distinct lack of awkward production numbers was appreciated. Only a Tracy Morgan fainting bit, intended to generate social-media buzz, fell flat.

Two controversial sketches: The "Breaking Bad" Andy Griffith tribute parody, complete with whistling theme song and violence — a clever mindblower. And a fake in-memoriam bit starring Kimmel — an unfunny idea that was borderline bad taste. Ron Howard's tribute to Griffith at the start of the real in memoriam partially made up for it.

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